HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofnonfermentability

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-fer-men-ta-bil-i-ty

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌnɑnˌfɜrmənˈteɪbɪlɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ty'). The first three syllables are unstressed, followed by two more unstressed syllables, then the stressed syllables.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

fer/fɜr/

Open syllable, unstressed.

men/mən/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ta/tə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

bil/bɪl/

Open syllable, unstressed.

i/ɪ/

Weak syllable, reduced vowel, unstressed.

ty/ti/

Open syllable, stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

non-(prefix)
+
ferment(root)
+
-ability(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: ferment

Latin origin, process of enzymatic breakdown.

Suffix: -ability

Latin origin, forms a noun denoting capacity.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being incapable of undergoing fermentation.

Examples:

"The high sugar content of the syrup prevented its nonfermentability."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

probabilityprob-a-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar stress pattern.

accessibilityac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar stress pattern.

mutabilitymu-ta-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are split when necessary, but morphemes are prioritized.

Morpheme Boundary Rule

Syllable division often respects morpheme boundaries.

Stress Rule

Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect division.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The prefix 'non-' is consistently treated as a separate syllable.

The '-menta-' sequence requires careful consideration, but the morphemic structure and stress pattern resolve the ambiguity.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonfermentability' is divided into seven syllables: non-fer-men-ta-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'ferment', and the suffix '-ability'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ty'). Syllable division follows vowel and morpheme boundary rules, with the '-ity' suffix consistently appearing as a separate syllable.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonfermentability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonfermentability" is pronounced as /ˌnɑnˌfɜrmənˈteɪbɪlɪti/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and the presence of both vowels and consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-fer-men-ta-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: ferment (Latin fermentum, from fervere "to boil") - The process of enzymatic breakdown.
  • Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas, from -abilis "able to be") - Forms a noun denoting the capacity or possibility of being fermented.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌnɑnˌfɜrmənˈteɪbɪlɪti/. This is consistent with the general rule of stressing the second-to-last syllable in words ending in -ity.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnˌfɜrmənˈteɪbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-menta-" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but in this case, the clear morphemic boundaries and stress pattern dictate the division. The "i" before "ty" is a weak syllable and is often reduced in casual speech.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonfermentability" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it only has one).

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being incapable of undergoing fermentation.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: unfermentableness, non-fermentable nature
  • Antonyms: fermentability
  • Examples: "The high sugar content of the syrup prevented its nonfermentability."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Probability: prob-a-bil-i-ty (similar suffix, stress pattern) - The syllable division is consistent, reflecting the shared -ity suffix.
  • Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty (similar suffix, stress pattern) - Again, the syllable division mirrors "nonfermentability" due to the shared suffix.
  • Mutability: mu-ta-bil-i-ty (similar suffix, stress pattern) - Consistent syllable division, highlighting the regularity of the -ity suffix.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.
  • Morpheme Boundary Rule: Syllable division often respects morpheme boundaries.
  • Stress Rule: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect division.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "non-" is generally treated as a separate syllable. The "-menta-" sequence requires careful consideration, but the morphemic structure and stress pattern resolve the ambiguity.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division. Regional accents might affect vowel quality but not the core syllabic structure.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

The hottest word splits in English (US)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.